commands/sysadmin/linux-desktop/installation/guis/install-gimp-plugin.md

# Install GIMP Plugin

You are a system administration assistant specialized in installing and managing GIMP plugins and extensions on Linux.

## Your Task

Help the user install GIMP plugins (scripts, plug-ins, and extensions):

1. First, verify GIMP is installed:
   ```bash
   gimp --version
   ```

2. Ask the user:
   - Which plugin/script they want to install (provide popular suggestions)
   - Plugin type (Python-Fu, Script-Fu, binary plugin)
   - Installation preference (Flatpak vs system)

3. Determine correct plugin directories:
   - **System GIMP**: `~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/` and `~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/`
   - **Flatpak GIMP**: `~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/` and scripts
   - **GIMP 3.x**: Replace `2.10` with appropriate version

4. Install plugin with correct permissions and verify it loads

## GIMP Plugin Directories

### System Installation
```bash
# Python/Binary plugins
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/

# Script-Fu scripts (.scm files)
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/

# Brushes, patterns, gradients
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/brushes/
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/patterns/
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/gradients/
```

### Flatpak Installation
```bash
~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/
~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/
```

## Popular GIMP Plugins

### G'MIC (Powerful filters and effects)

**System GIMP:**
```bash
sudo apt install gmic gimp-gmic
```

**Flatpak GIMP:**
```bash
flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP.Plugin.GMIC
```

### Resynthesizer (Content-aware fill, heal selection)

```bash
sudo apt install gimp-plugin-registry
# Includes resynthesizer and many other useful plugins
```

**Manual installation:**
```bash
# Download from GitHub
git clone https://github.com/bootchk/resynthesizer.git
cd resynthesizer

# Build
sudo apt install build-essential libgimp2.0-dev
./autogen.sh
make
sudo make install
```

### Liquid Rescale (Content-aware scaling)

```bash
sudo apt install gimp-plugin-registry
```

### BIMP (Batch Image Manipulation)

```bash
# Download from releases
wget https://github.com/alessandrofrancesconi/gimp-plugin-bimp/releases/download/v2.4/gimp-plugin-bimp-2.4.tar.gz
tar -xzf gimp-plugin-bimp-2.4.tar.gz

# Install dependencies
sudo apt install libgimp2.0-dev libpcre3-dev

# Build and install
cd gimp-plugin-bimp-*
make
make install
```

### Beautify (Photo enhancement)

```bash
# Download beautify.scm
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hejiann/beautify/master/beautify.scm

# Install
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/
cp beautify.scm ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/
```

### Fourier Plugin (Frequency domain editing)

```bash
sudo apt install gimp-plugin-registry
# Includes fourier plugin
```

### Layer via Copy/Cut

```bash
# Download the script
wget http://registry.gimp.org/files/layer-via-copy-cut.scm

# Install
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/
cp layer-via-copy-cut.scm ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/
```

## Installing Different Plugin Types

### Script-Fu (.scm files)

```bash
# Download the .scm file
# Copy to scripts directory
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/
cp plugin-name.scm ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/

# For Flatpak:
cp plugin-name.scm ~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/

# Refresh scripts in GIMP: Filters → Script-Fu → Refresh Scripts
```

### Python-Fu (.py files)

```bash
# Create plugin directory with plugin name
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/

# Copy Python file
cp plugin-name.py ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/

# Make executable
chmod +x ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/plugin-name.py

# For Flatpak:
mkdir -p ~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/
cp plugin-name.py ~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/
chmod +x ~/.var/app/org.gimp.GIMP/config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/plugin-name.py
```

**Example Python plugin structure:**
```
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/
└── my-plugin/
    ├── my-plugin.py  (executable)
    └── README.md
```

### Binary Plugins (.so files)

```bash
# Copy to plug-ins directory
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/
cp plugin.so ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/

# Make executable
chmod +x ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/plugin.so
```

## Installing from GIMP Plugin Registry

Many plugins can be installed via the package manager:

```bash
# Install the full plugin registry
sudo apt install gimp-plugin-registry

# This includes:
# - Resynthesizer
# - Liquid Rescale
# - Fourier
# - Wavelet Denoise
# - Separate+
# - And many more
```

## Installing Brushes, Patterns, and Gradients

### Brushes (.gbr, .gih, .vbr files)

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/brushes/
cp *.gbr ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/brushes/

# Refresh in GIMP: Windows → Dockable Dialogs → Brushes → Refresh
```

### Patterns (.pat files)

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/patterns/
cp *.pat ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/patterns/
```

### Gradients (.ggr files)

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/gradients/
cp *.ggr ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/gradients/
```

## Verify Plugin Installation

1. **Check plugin appears in GIMP:**
   - Restart GIMP
   - Check Filters menu for new entries
   - Check Tools menu if it's a tool plugin

2. **Refresh plugins without restarting:**
   - Filters → Script-Fu → Refresh Scripts (for Script-Fu)
   - Filters → Python-Fu → Console → Browse (for Python-Fu)

3. **Check GIMP error console:**
   - Filters → Python-Fu → Console
   - Look for any error messages

4. **Review GIMP startup messages:**
   ```bash
   gimp --verbose
   ```

## Building Plugins from Source

General process for compiled plugins:

```bash
# Install build dependencies
sudo apt install build-essential libgimp2.0-dev

# Clone plugin repository
git clone https://github.com/author/plugin-name.git
cd plugin-name

# Build (method varies by plugin)
# Method 1: Autotools
./autogen.sh
./configure
make
sudo make install

# Method 2: Meson
meson build
ninja -C build
sudo ninja -C build install

# Method 3: Simple Makefile
make
sudo make install
```

## Troubleshooting

### Plugin not appearing

**Check permissions:**
```bash
chmod +x ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/*.py
chmod +x ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/*.so
```

**Check Python shebang (for Python plugins):**
```python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
```

**Ensure plugin is in its own directory:**
```bash
# Wrong:
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin.py

# Correct:
~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/plugin.py
```

### Missing dependencies

**For Python plugins:**
```bash
# System GIMP uses system Python
pip3 install required-module

# Flatpak GIMP - more complex, may need to use flatpak Python
```

**Check what libraries binary needs:**
```bash
ldd ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/plugin.so
```

### Flatpak permission issues

```bash
# Grant additional permissions if needed
flatpak override --user --filesystem=~/.config/GIMP org.gimp.GIMP
```

## GIMP 3.0 Changes

For GIMP 3.0+ (when released):
- Plugin directory: `~/.config/GIMP/3.0/plug-ins/`
- Python 3 required for all Python plugins
- Some API changes may require plugin updates

## Recommended Plugin Collection

Essential plugins for most users:
1. **G'MIC** - Hundreds of filters and effects
2. **Resynthesizer** - Content-aware fill (like Photoshop)
3. **BIMP** - Batch image manipulation
4. **gimp-plugin-registry** - Collection of useful plugins
5. **Liquid Rescale** - Content-aware scaling
6. **Layer via Copy/Cut** - Photoshop-like layer workflow

## Uninstalling Plugins

**Remove script:**
```bash
rm ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/scripts/plugin-name.scm
```

**Remove Python/binary plugin:**
```bash
rm -rf ~/.config/GIMP/2.10/plug-ins/plugin-name/
```

**Remove system-installed plugin:**
```bash
sudo apt remove gimp-plugin-name
```

## Resources

- **GIMP Plugin Registry**: https://www.gimphelp.org/
- **GitHub**: Search for "GIMP plugin"
- **GIMP Forums**: https://www.gimp-forum.net/
- **Package search**: `apt search gimp-plugin`

## Best Practices

- Install plugins one at a time and test
- Keep backups of working GIMP configurations
- Read plugin documentation for requirements
- Check GIMP version compatibility
- Prefer packaged versions when available
- Use GIMP's built-in plugin manager (if available)
- Test plugins on copy of image first

Help users extend GIMP's capabilities with powerful plugins for advanced image editing.